Fact Sheet - Markenfield

Castle Nursery Fact File

Dear Parents

Did you know.....

·       We have a story sack library that parents can sign out and borrow, containing a story and props to use, giving another dimension to those story times.

·       We have just become an accredited Forest School. As part of our introduction parents will be invited on a Forest School session to see what it’s all about.

·       We have  Spring (April – Sept), Autumn (Sept – Jan) and Winter (Jan – April) menu’s.

·       We hold stay and play sessions on the second and fourth Friday of every month, where parents are encouraged to come and play with their children at the setting.

·       NCT coffee mornings are held at Castle, Markenfield on the 1^st Friday (for those mummies with 2^nd children) of every month and the second Friday (for first time mummies) of every month.  At the 2^nd NCT coffee morning we have a resident health visitor who can answer any questions or weigh your child if you so wish.

·       We are currently organising play dates between parents and your child’s key person.  The thought behind this is to get to know your child’s key person better whilst they find out a little more about their key families (eg) where you like to go on holiday, do grandparents live close by? etc.

·       All parents are encouraged to look at the company policies and procedures.  There may be some that are of more interest to you than others, which is fine.  A complete copy is situated in the parent information area by the front door.  We are quite happy for you to take it home to peruse however you will need to sign it out.  Otherwise we are happy to photocopy particular policies for you if you so wish.

·       We are re introducing our parent forums.  These shall take place once every quarter to discuss any operational topics and ideas to improve the service.  The forums shall be constructed as an opt in/out meeting whereby parents are not obligated to come to everyone however we would like a mix of parents from different age groups, if possible, so that changes that may be agreed will benefit all concerned.  We have arranged the time for 5pm – 6pm as we thought that this may be easier for parents to leave work and attend.  Please could you advise the office if you are coming for refreshment purposes.

·       We currently have three staff studying for their and two who have successfully completed, their foundation degree.  We also have an Early Years Professional and a staff member with a BA and MA in Early Years and interprofessional working.

·       Michelle’s working hours are five days per week (7.30 am – 4.30pm) and Leanne works (7.30 am – 6.15pm) Monday to Thursday if you need to speak to us, however Michelle will be available later in the day should her working hours not be convenient for parents.

Your weekly Blog

Dear Parents and Carers

We are now officially a Forest School!!  This is where the children use the outdoor areas (Chantries) as a learning tool to gain an array of skills.  To learn more about what your child will be doing during these sessions we are inviting all parents form all age groups to join us for an introductory morning session on Saturday March 23^rd.  More details shall be available nearer the time, however of you are interested in joining us, please see either Lee or Michelle.  I would also like to take this opportunity to say congratulations and well dome to Lee for all of his hard work in gaining the accreditation as however much fun it was there was also a lot of hard work involved on his part.  If, in the meantime you would like to find out more, please do not hesitate to ask.

Snails

Over the next two weeks the snails shall be celebrating Spring by making daffodils for a spring display.  Water play shall incorporate the plastic ducks whilst sensory exploration shall include body painting and treasure basket play.

Days off Jenni – Thursday

Caterpillars

The week the children in the Caterpillars room shall continue to explore the outdoor space.  The children will use crayons to draw out in the garden and practice building towers with bricks during outdoor play.

In the sand tray outdoors wet sand will provide the children with malleable material to build sandcastles.

Days Off  Jamie – Wednesday

Jamie Annual leave -  Mon & Tues

Alisha Annual leave - Mon & Tues

Kim shall be covering staffing in the Caterpillars on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Ladybirds

 Continuing their theme of transport, the Caterpillars shall be make bus tickets and decorate them using the tickets during role play as the furniture is moved to replicate the seating on a bus.  Books used during story times shall centre around the transport theme and during creative activities the children shall be gluing and sticking templates of bikes, trains and aeroplanes.

Days off   Julie – Thursday   Abi – Monday

Elly Annual leave - Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Bumblebees

The current interest for the Bumblebees is sea life.  During the day the children shall use the blocks in the pre school to create a boat out in the garden.  Also during outdoor play, small world shall be used as a prop to discuss holidays with the children.

Small group sessions shall involve discussions about where the children have been on holiday and the methods of transport they used to get there.  This will then be extended to encouraging the children to draw a picture depicting their holiday.

Days off – Krissi – Monday          Tash  - Monday      Nikki - Monday

Could we please ask that parents return their play date letters, as feedback from staff and parents who have attended these have described them as invaluable and we would like everyone to have the opportunity to experience them.

Also please can parents remember when dropping off/collecting their child to sign in and out of the register.

Butterflies

The week the pre school children shall be celebrating St David’s Day by making dragon masks to use during outdoor play, making leek soup and bread for tea and reading stories surrounding different cultures.

Imaginative play shall be supported by making dens outside and pretending that they are dragon caves.

The children shall make welsh flags and learn how to say ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ in welsh.

Days off – Jo – Tuesday     Claire –  Thursday        

Lee – Paternity leave all week (Potentially!!)

Sadly we are saying goodbye to Claire this week who leaves us to start a new career path as a nanny.  I am sure that you will all join me is wishing her the best for the future.  Claire’s last day with us will be Wednesday February 27^th.

Lee is due to become a daddy for the second time on Monday and therefore shall be on paternity leave for the next two weeks, or thereafter his daughter is born.  We shall keep you posted with the news.

Dear Parents and Carers

Snails

The snails shall be exploring different textures this week including water, wet sand, leaves and twigs in the garden and cornflour with water.

Days off Jenni – Thursday

Caterpillars

The week the children in the Caterpillars room shall continue to explore the outdoor space.  They shall do this by exploring tunnels, puzzles in the garden, bubble play in the garden and heuristic play in the garden.

Indoors the children shall be playing with happyland animals in water and a role play tea party with cups. Tea pots and play food.

Jamie is on Annual leave all week.

Ladybirds

 Continuing their theme of transport, the Caterpillars shall be making their own transport modals out of duplo, exploring car and tractor marks in damp sand, singing transport songs such as wheels on the bus and row row your boat, making a soft play boat and  exploring the trains and train track pushing, pulling and making train sounds.

 Days off   Julie – Friday   Abi – Monday

Bumblebees

The current interest for the Bumblebees has changed from pets to sea life.  To promote this the children shall be making ice cubes with toy fish inside, making animal stained glass windows, sewing turtle shapes, reading the rainbow fish and making our own pictures of the fish we see, seaweed/coral pictures with cellotape, coloured water play and drawing in the garden on large pieces of paper.

Days off – Krissi – Monday                      Tash  - Friday

Tash is on annual leave Tuesday

Leonie is on annual leave Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

Butterflies

The week the pre school children shall be centring their activities around outdoor play and getting ready for forest school, they will be using tools and equipment in the mud kitchen, moulding and handling- encouraging children to make dens as well as balancing o beams, encouraging self help skills – putting on coats, socks and wellies with little adult help, using hammers and other one handed tools encouraging the children to further develop their hand eye co-ordination, small world toys outside, woodwork encouraging the children to use tools and prepare for activities in forest school and reading stories about the outdoors and talking about our safety and how we care and show concern for living things.

Days off – Jo – Tuesday     Claire –  Thursday

The pre school team would like to request any unwanted kitchen utensils parents may have for our mud kitchen, outside. Thank you.

Lee still needs a few things for Forest School these include an old working Digital Camera, plain eye masks and wellies. Thank you

We would like to remind you mummies that we are holding a Mother’s Day breakfast on Friday March 8^th.  We would love to see you there. If you would like to join us please could you see Michelle or Leanne.  Thank you.

We would like to remind parents that we do not allow children to bring in their own foods, if you have any questions concerning this please see Michelle or Leanne. Thank you

Can we also please remind parents to be wary when letting other parents through the door, if you do not know the parent please ask them to call the buzzer and a member of staff will let them in.

We have created a new parent are in the foyer here you will find a displayed copy of all our safeguarding and behaviour management policies. You can also find a full copy of our policies and procedures for your perusal in this area these are available for you to take home but we ask that you please sign these out.

Dear Parents and Carers

Snails

The snails shall continue their exploration of the treasure baskets as this weeks planned activities. 

Days off Jenni – Thursday

  

Caterpillars

The children will be exploring the outdoors this week, where they will be encouraged to join in water play, mark making in the garden and exploring the tunnels and bikes.  Additional activities this week include heuristic play and a picnic using play food and role play with dolls.

On Friday February 15^th and Monday February 18^th, the Caterpillars shall be amalgamating with the Ladybirds as our decoration schedule continues with the refurbishment of the Caterpillars room.  We thank you in advance for your patience and co operation in this matter, however if you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Michelle.

Days Off  Jamie – Thursday

Ladybirds

The children will develop their current interest in transport by using boxes to make a bus for role play.  Painting is planned, using the wheels of toy cars to make different patterns.  Happy land shall support the children’s learning by encouraging the children to mimic the noises different vehicles make.

Days off   Julie – Friday    Abi – Monday

Bumblebees

Continuing the theme of pets, the Bumblebees shall make animal masks and help to clean out the fish tank in the room.  Can we ask those parents whose child has a pet to bring in a photo to encourage discussions with the children.  Other activities include making animal puppets out of socks and gluing and sticking pictures to make different kinds of pets for a display.

This week we would like to welcome Leonie who will join the Bumblebees team, working Monday to Friday, 08.30 – 17.30.  Leonie has a foundation degree in education and has recently moved into the area from London having got married.

Days off – Krissi – Monday                      Tash  - Friday

Butterflies

This week the butterflies shall be celebrating the Chinese New Year.  This will include making Chinese lanterns, cooking traditional Chinese food and using chopsticks to explore the sand.  Preparations shall be carried out to make a Chinese dragon and the exploration of Chinese letters shall be supported using traditional brushes.  The Chinese Zodiac shall also be discussed with the children.

Days off – Jo – Tuesday     Claire –  Thursday

Please can I remind parents of the definition of a well child adopted by the setting.  This is a child who;

·         Is not reliant on Calpol

·         Who does not require a greater ratio

·         Who has normal bowel movements

·         Does not have a temperature

·         Participates in activities as normal

We have recently introduced play dates whereby your child’s keyworker spends a few hours with you, at the park, for example.  This time enables parents to get to know their child’s keyperson a little better whilst giving your child’s key worker an opportunity to get to know their key families.  Please see your child’s key person to arrange a date.